Safety razor



Oct. 30, 1956 G. T. RANDOL 2,768,436

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Jan. 29, 1954 SAFETY RAZOR Glenn T. Randal, Mountain Lake Park, Md.

Application January 29, 1954, ISerial No. 407,043

Claims. (Cl. Sil-64)' The present invention relates generally to a novel and improved safety razor construction for use with expendable conventional blades of the type having a single cutting edge opposite a butt edge.

Broadly, the present invention provides a novel and improved safety razor having a blade channel expandible to receive a blade of the character described responsive to manual pressure on the blade, and further adapted to automatically clamp the blade in shaving position responsive to release of the manual pressure therefrom.

More particularly, this invention relates to a novel and improved breech loading and unloading razor construction for use with blades of the character above set forth, and which does not require a separate or auxiliary loading device to attain its objectives.

Specifically, the invention is directed to the provision of a razor designed to eliminate the risk of personal injury during blade loading and unloading operations; to the provision of a razor that is easy to manipulate; to the provision of a razor that, because of its simplelconstruction requiring few parts, is ideal from a manufacturing standpoint.

The primary objective of the invention therefore, is to provide a razor incorporating means for attaining the advantages referred to above. To this end, the invention provides a hollow razor head or frame formed from thin metallic material; a longitudinal opening through the razor head through which the blade-cutting components project; means for mounting the head on one end of a handle; a blade-supporting platform slidably mounted for fore and aft movements transversely of the razor head and having lateral extensions projecting into and slidable in slots formed in the side walls of said head; a leaf spring constantly biasing the platform in one direction; a breech opening in the razor head opposite the longitudinal opening via which blades may be inserted into and withdrawn therefrom; means integral with said platform for automatically positioning an inserted blade at the most desirable angle for effective shaving operations; and means on the head cooperating with rigid means on the spring-biased platform to retain a blade in position on said platform during shaving operations; and a blade channel defined by the space between the retaining means aforesaid when normally in clamping adjustment to retain a blade therebetween.

The invention further provides means associated with the top wall of the razor head to stabilize a blade during shaving operations, and means for partially ejecting a blade via said breech opening automatically in response to slight manual pressure applied to the butt edge of said blade, as will appear.

In the course of the more comprehensive description of the invention to follow, attention will be directed to certain details of construction, features, and advantages that have not been thus far specified. The invention is illustrated on an accompanying sheet of drawings, all of the views being drawn to an enlarged scale in the interest of clarity.

nited States Patent ice In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale, of a razor construction embodying the principles of the present invention, the lower portion of the included handle being broken away;

Figure 2 is a top plan thereof, viewed as indicated by the line 2 2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a further enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 2, the scale corresponding to that of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken approximately along the line 5 5 of Figure l, the scale corresponding to that of Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the slidable blade supporting platform per se, the scale corresponding to that of Figures l and 2;

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a blade-platform biasing leaf spring, the scale corresponding to that of Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 4, demonstrating an intermediate position of a blade during either a bladeinsertion or a blade-removal operation; and

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 4, illustrating the normal relative disposition of the parts when the razor head is empty, and demonstrating the initial positioning of a blade for insertion, said blade being shown in broken lines.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 12 designates generally a safety razor incorporating the principles of the present invention. The lower end portion of the razor handle 14 is broken away to conserve space, the upper end section of said handle being designated 16.

Surmounting said handle upper end section 16, is the razor head generally designated 18, which includes a bottom wall or base segment 20, a top wall or cover segment 22, and longitudinally spaced side walls or segments 24 integrally formed therewith. As indicated at 26 by broken lines in Figure 2, and by a full line in Figure 5, the bottom wall Ztl is split transversely for a reason to bc explained hereinafter.

The upper end surface 28 of handle section 16 is obliquely formed as shown, and an inverted U-shaped bracket 29, including a correspondingly oblique web segment 30, is rigidly secured to the bottom wall 2t) of the razor head by means of rivets 32 as shown in Figure 5, or in any other feasible manner. The leg segments 34 of the bracket 29 extend into recesses 36 provided therefor in the side faces of handle section 16, as best seen in Figures 3 and 5.

Formed on the transverse centerline in said bottom wall segment 20 of the razor head, is an opening 38 the width of which is slightly greater than that of the leaf spring 40 illustrated per se in Figure 7. In the assembled status of the razor, the upper end 42 of said spring extends through the opening 38 to project into an elongated longitudinal slot 44 provided in a slidably mounted blade-supporting platform generally designated 46, that is portrayed per se in Figure 6, and will be described in detail below.

The lower extremity of the leaf spring 40 is designated 48, and is in the form of an extension normal to the body portion of said spring. In the assembled razor, the extension 48 is seated in a transverse recess 5t) provided therefor in handle section 16, and a rectangular sleeve or band 52 which is split vertically as at 54, surrounds or encases said section 16, said bracket 28, and said spring 4t), as clearly illustrated. A longitudinal rivet 56 retains all these parts in place, so that the razor head 18 is rigidly mounted atop the handle in a plane of angularity conducive to eicient and smooth shaving operations. Formed centrally in the front face 58 of the band 52 is a vertical opening 60, the width of which is slightly greater than that of the spring 40, whereby as will appear, the upper portion of said spring may oscillate toward and away from handle section i6.

integrally formed therewith, and extending upwardly from the rear marginal edge of the bottom wall segment of the razor head, is a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-retaining projections or lugs 62, each terminating at the top in a slightly arcuate or inturned segment 64 as shown. The rear marginal edge 66 .of the t segment 22 of tbe razor head terminates for y of the corresponding edge of the bottom wall segment, andis provided centrally with an arcuate recess or cutout 63 preferably adapted for the thumb. The forward marginal portion 70 of said top wall segment is severed therefrom as at 71 in Figure 2, and is downwardly' inclined to provide a yieldable blade-clamping edge 72 extending from to side of the blade head.

With attention directed particularly to Figures l and 5, cach side wall 24 of the razor head has formed therein an elongated slot 74, the lower edge of each slot being coplanar with the top surface of the bottom wallsegment 2t).

The blade-supporting platform 45 is of rectangular configuration, and comprises a generally fiat plate 76 wherein the said elongated slot 44 is formed on the transverse centerline thereof. The rearward edge of said slot is defined by a downturned lip 73, pressed from the body portion of said plate, and which as will appear, is in constant engagement with the upper end segment 42 of the leaf spring 49. Numeral S0 designates the rear edge of the platform 46, and numeral 82 indicates an integral arcuate longitudinal bump or ridge upwardly extruded adjacent said edge, as best seen in Figure 6.

An extension or tab 64 projects laterally from each side margin of plate 76, and in the assembled razor, each of these tabs is slidably disposed in one of the elongated slots 74, as shown in Figures l and 5.

Numeral 86 designates a longitudinal guard segment constituting the forward marginal edge portion of the plate 76, and at each forward corner, said plate is provided with an integral opstanding lug or stop 8S, that is undercut as at 9i). For cleansing purposes as is understood, a series of elongated openings 92 are provided in the plate adjacent the guard segment 86 and subjaccnt to the cutting edge of the blade.

A feature of the instant invention is that it is adapted for use with any of the conventional single cutting edge type of blades, such as that exemplarily shown in the drawings and generally indicated B. Blades of this character are well known, and include a cutting edge opposite a rounded or butt edge, the last named edge may be, for example, equipped with an arcuate segment of a reversely bent reinforcing strip to facilitate handling, as is well understood.

Some blades of this nature have slots, apertures, and so on, formed therein for cti-operation with complemented elements of certain commercial types of razors,rbut it is noted that the present razor construction requires no formations of any kind in the blade body. lt is also Vto be noted however, that present-day blades which do incorporate such apertures, stenciis, and the like, may be as efficiently and successfully accommodated by the razor head of this invention as those which do not.

Although the manner in which my invention achieves its objectives should be manifest from the foregoing description augmented by an inspection of the drawings, a brief explanation is deemed apropos, and will be given. With a view to clarity, the cutting edge of the exemplary blade B is identied by the numeral 96, the butt edge thereof by the numeral 93.

What will be considered a shaving cycle, will now be described with reference to the razor ofthe invention. Such a cycle comprises the steps of successivelymounting a blade B in effective cutting position; thereupon shaving in normal fashion; and thereafter effecting the removal of said blade for cleansing and subsequent re-usc, or for disposal. Blades are insertable into and removable from the head 18 via a breech opening 100, that is defined by the inclined rear marginal edges 102 of the side wall segments 24, the similar marginal edge 66 of top segment 22, and the rear marginal edge 104 of the bottom wall 20, while the blade-cutting components comprising the guard segment, stops 88, and'blade cutting edge project through the longitudinal opening defined by the longitudinal edge 72 of the top wall 22, the subjacently disposed longitudinal edge of the bottom wall 2i), and the vertical longitudinally spaced edges of the interconnecting side wall segments 24. Thus, the aforesaid breech and longitudinal openings form the termini of the hollow within the razor frame.

initially it will be assumed that the razor 12 is empty, as portrayed in Figure 9. At such time, the free end portion 42 of the leaf spring 46 is exerting rearward pressure against the lip 73, thus biasing the rear edge S0 of bladeplatform 46 into engagement with the lugs 62 wherein the blade channel is reduced to less than blade width. A blade B, outlined in broken lines, may now be inserted manually via the breech opening fili). With the butt edge 98 held between thumb and forenger, the blade with its cutting edge 96 in the lead, is propelled forwardly until the corner portions of said edge engage the undercuts of bosses 8S. This particular position of the blade is demonstrated in Figure 9, where the butt edge forming and reinforcing strip is seen to temporarily rest atop the inturned extremities 6ft of the lugs 62.

Slight thumb pressure thereupon exerted first forwardly and then downwardly, all in one continuous movement as understood, will successively propel the blade and simultaneously widen the blade channel into the Figure 8 disposition, and thereafter into the Figure 4 disposition thereof wherein the blade is deposited in the blade channel in shaving position.

At the Figure 8 moment of blade-insertion movement, it will be noted that the platform 46, has been slid forwardly against the rearward biasing .force of the leaf spring to widen the blade channel sufficiently for reception of the blade between the blade-retaining stops 62, 88, thus augmenting the energy previously existent in said spring. Now as the blade B continues its forward motion from the Figure 8 to the Figure 4 position thereof, slight thumb pressure simultaneously applied to the reinforcing strip Lipper surface of the blade, causes the butt edge 98 to clear the inturned extremities 64 of the lugs 62 accommodated by the abnormal width of the blade channel. At the same time, the cutting edge 96 passes forwardly from beneath the clamping edge 72 of the downwardly inclined resilient marginal portion 70 through the longitudinal frame opening aforesaid, whereby said marginal portion is distended slightly upwardly, in consequence of which a clamping action is exerted against the cutting edge adjacent portion of the blade. This clamping action is exerted against the blade along a line extending longitudinally from side to side thereof, it being noted that the slits 71 appearing in Figure 2 provide for this result.

Thus it should be manifest that blade-insertion into effective shaving position is a simple operation. The finger cutout 68 obviously facilitates the operation, and the longitudinal arcuate ridge 82 automatically maneuvers the blade into its most desirable and effective angular cutting position. The rearwardly biasing force of the leaf spring 40 now maintains the butt edge 98 of blade B in intimate contact with the arcuate segments 64 of the lugs 62 wherein the blade channel is adjusted to blade width.

Thus it is apparent that throughout the actual 4shaving operation which may now be had, the blade B is rigidly confined against fortuitous displacement, with its cutting edge 96 stabilized inrconsequence of the clamping action generated by the longitudinal edge 72 of the top wall forward marginal portion 70. Rinsing and/ or cleansing the blade at intervals of beard-laden lather is facilitated by the provision of the elongated guard openings 92.

Following completion of the shaving operation, removal of the blade will complete a cycle. The extremely simple and safe manner in which blade removal may be accomplished, is also considered to be an outstanding feature of my invention, and wiil be briefly described.

Either one of two procedures may be followed with respect to blade removal. That is to say, following a certain preliminary step to be set forth, the blade may be either manually removed from the razor head 18, or said blade may be gravitationally removed therefrom, in the manner to be explained.

With reference particularly to Figure 2, it is noted that the butt edge 93 lof blade B projects beyond the rear marginal edge 104i of frame bottom wall 20 between the lugs 62. To release the blade from its Figure 4 shaving position, it is merely necessary to apply slight thumb pressure forwardly and upwardly to the overhanging butt edge 98 thus enabling it to clear the inturned ends 64 of the lugs 62, whereupon following release of thumb pressure the augmented biasing force of the leaf spring will automatically propel the butt portion of the blade B through the breech opening to the dotted line position thereof exhibited in Figure 9. Thereupon, the blade may be manually removed, lor the razor may be tilted rearwardly, in consequence of which the blade will drop from the head by gravity.

Thus, it should be manifest that my invention discloses a novel razor construction that is very simple in design, that is adapted to accommodate conventional single-edged blades, that is easy to manipulate, and that is manipulable without the risk of personal injury. Insertion and removal of a blade requires but a few seconds. The leaf spring biased blade-supporting platform 46 provides for smooth and automatic compensation for slight variances in blade width from cutting edge to butt edge. The extensions 84, slidably disposed in the elongated slots 74, stabilize said platform, and the yieldable clamping edge 72 stabilizes the blade in shaving position on the platform.

The manner in which the razor may be assembled is deemed to be evident from the drawings, and will therefore not be described in detail. The razor head 18 is split centrally and transversely at 26 as noted, wherefore it may be spread sufficiently to accommodate entry of the platform extensions 84 into the slots 74 prior to the attachment of the bracket 28, as should be clearly understood. The sleeve or band 52 is also centrally and vertically split at 54, so that it may be sprung into place about handle portion 16 with the leaf spring 40 anchored in place.

The preferred Vembodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described. It is to be understood however, that the invention contemplates any and all modifications thereof that may fall within the purview of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

l. A razor construction for a blade of the character described including in combination: a hollow razor head having a longitudinal opening adjacent the blade-cutting components; means for mounting the head fon one end of a handle; a blade-supporting platform slidable transversely fore and aft in the hollow of the head and projecting through said opening; a breech opening in the head opposite the first-named opening via which blades are inserted into `and removed from the head; means on the platform adapted to automatically position an inserted blade at its most effective shaving angle; a pair of longitudinally spaced cutting edge stops on the platform; a butt edge stop carried on the head adjacent the breech opening; resilient means on the head co-operating with the three stops aforesaid for releasably retaining said blade on the platform in shaving position; and spring means constantly biasing the platform transversely in one direction for partially ejecting lthe blade via said breech opening automatically in response to the application and release of manual pressure on the butt edge of said blade 2. A razor construction for a blade of the character described including in combination of structure recited in claim l, and means on the platform co-operating with means on the head for maintaining said platform in slidable planary disposition with respect to said head.

3. A razor construction for a blade fof the character described including the combination of structure recited in claim l, wherein the means on the platform adapted to automatically position an inserted blade at its most effective shaving angle comprise an upwardly extruded ridge integrally formed in said platform adjacent the breech opening in the head and extending longitudinally thereof.

4. A razor construction for use with a blade having a single cutting edge opposite a butt edge, including in combination: a handle; a hollow razor head rigidly secured to one end of the handle, and having a longitudinal opening adjacent the blade-cutting components; a bladesupporting platform slidably mounted for transverse movement in the hollow of said head with a portio-n thereof projecting through said opening; a preloaded leaf spring anchored at one end on the handle for constantly biasing Said platform away from said opening; a breech opening in said head opposite the longitudinal opening, through which a blade is inserted and deposited on said platform; a pair of longitudinally spaced undercut bosses Aat the corners of the platform projecting through the first-mentioned opening, each engaging a corner segment of the cutting edge of the blade; a guard member integral with the platform and forming the longitudinal edge portion thereof subjacent to the cutting edge of the blade; a longitudinally arcuate ridge extruded from the platform adjacent the breech opening to automatically dispose the blade angularly for effective shaving operations; and a pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced lugs provided on said head, each of said lugs terminating into a free inturned upper segment projecting into the breech iopening for releasably engaging the butt edge of the blade during shaving operations.

5. In a razor construction for use with a blade of the character described, a hollow razor head formed from thin metallic material and including: a transversely split bottom wall segment; a top wall segment; a pair of longitudinally spaced end wall segments; a substantially rectangular opening provided on the transverse centerline thereof in said bottom wall segment; a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs integrally formed with the bottom wall segment and extending upwardly from the rear marginal edge thereof, each of said rlugs terminating at the free end in a segment of slightly inturned configuration; an arcuate cutout provided centrally in the topwall along the rear marginal edge thereof; a downwardly inclined resilient forward marginal portion on the top wall segment, the opposite ends thereof being severed from the adjacent portions of the end wall segments; an elongated slot formed in each end wall segment, the lower edge of each slot being co-planar with the top surface of the bottom wall segment; and a breech opening defined by the rear marginal edges of said bottom, top, and end wall segments.

6. In a razor construction for use with a blade of the character described, a hollow razor head open longitudinally at both ends, a handle fixed at one end to said head, a blade-supporting platform slidably mounted in the hollow of said head for relative transverse movement fore and aft with respect thereto and comprising a plate of rectangular configuration that includes: an elongated longitudinal slot form-ed on the transverse centerline of the plate, the rearward edge of said slot being defined by a downturned lip pressed from the slot-surrounding body portion of said plate; an arcuately contoured ridge extruded from the plate adjacent the rear edge and extending longitudinally from end to end thereof; and integral extension projecting laterally from each end margin of the plate; a longitudinal guard segment consituting the forward marginal portion of said plate; an integral upstanding undercut lug provided at each corner of the plate; and a series of elongated openings along the plate adjacent the guard segment and the elongated longitudinal slot aforesaid.

7. In a razor construction for use with a blade of the type described; the blade-supporting platform defined in claim 6, in combination with a preloaded leaf spring having one end anchored in the fixed end of said handle, and the other free end extending through a rectangular opening formed in the bottom wall of said razor head, to prof ject into the recited elongated longitudinal slot of the platform and engage the downturned lip which defines the rearward edge of said slot whereby to constantly bias the platform toward the breech opening.

8. A razor construction for blades of the type described, including in assembly: a handle; a hollow razor head mounted on one end of the handle and having a longitudinal opening adjacent the blade-cutting components; a breech opening defined by the marginal edges of the head opposite the longitudinal opening for the insertion and removal of blades therethrough; a blade receiving and supporting platform slidably mounted for fore and aft movement in the head; means on the platform for engaging the cutting edge corners of the blade when inserted in the head; means on the platform for positioning an inserted blade in a plane obliquely disposed relatively with respect to the platform; means on the head adjacent the breech opening for engaging the butt edge of the blade when inserted in the head; means for constantly biasing said platform toward the breech opening; means for limiting sliding movements of the platform aforesaid; and means for limiting the cutting depth of the blade cutting edge.

9. A razor construction for use with a razor blade having a single cutting edge opposite a butt edge, the cornbination of: a breech-loading and unloading razor head; means for afxing said head rigidly to one end of a handle; a rectangular blade-supporting platform slidably mounted for reciprocable movement in the head; means on the platform to automatically effect the disposition of the blade in a predetermined plane of angularity relatively with respect to said platform; means to stabilize the blade on the platform; means to stabilize the platform during a shaving operation; means for establishing the limits of the cutting depth of the blade; and preloaded spring means effective in response to manual pressure simultaneously exerted in two directions against the butt edge of the blade for automatically propelling the blade into shaving position and releasable for removal from said head responsive to manual pressure applied to said blade in one direction only.

l0. ln a safety razor comprising a hollow head longitudinally open at both ends; a rectangular-shaped blade platform slidably mounted in the head; a guard edge formed on the platform and extending through one of the head openings; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade stops on the platform mounted superjacently to the guard edge; blade stop means mounted on the head adjacent the other head opening; preloaded spring means biasing the platform toward the other head opening; and a singleedged blade manually insertable through the other head opening into engagement with the pair of blade stops whereby application of manual pressure in two directions on the butt edge of said blade advances the blade and platform simultaneously to a position wherein the blade butt edge confronts the blade stop means mounted on the head to enable impingement of the blade between the two stops and stop means aforesaid in shaving position upon release of manual pressure from the blade butt edge. l1. A safety razor according to claim l0 in which the hollow head comprises: a handle; and a pair of rectangular-shaped members disposed in superjacently spaced relation and interconnected by two longitudinally spaced end wall segments, the lower of said members being rigidly connected to the handle and the other member having its longitudinal edge portion adjacent the blade-cutting components resiliently formed with the opposite edge contoured with a medially disposed arcuate finger cutout.

l2. A safety razor according to claim 1l in which the blade-stop means engaging the butt edge of the blade comprise: a pair of longitudinally spaced projections integral with the lower head member and adapted to partially block the head opening opposite the opening adjacent the blade-cutting components.

13. A safety razor according to claim l0 plus an opening in the platform adjacent the guard edge thereof and subjacent to the blade cutting edge for conveying beardladened lather therefrom during a shaving operation.

14. A safety razor according to claim l0 plus a hump on the platform opposite the pair of stops for establishing the blade at the proper shaving angle with respect to the platform guard edge.

15. A safety razor comprising a hollow head having a breech opening and a handle for said head: a blade platform slidably mounted in the head for limited reciprocation relative thereto; blade-retaining means carried by the head and platform respectively in confronting disposition to form an expandible blade channel therebetween; a blade having a butt edge opposite a cutting edge manually insertable through the breech opening, and into said channel responsive to manual pressure against the butt edge acting via portions of the cutting edge in engagement with the retaining means on the platform to advance the latter to widen the channel for reception of the blade; and preloaded spring means opposing said widening of the blade channel, for retracting the platform and blade auto matically upon release of the blade after being positioned in said channel as aforesaid, whereby the blade-retaining means become effective on the blade edges to releasably impinge the blade in shaving position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES `PAJ1`El-Tl`S 933,168 Faas Sept. 7, 1909 1,403,936 Behrman Ian. 17, 1922 2,682,105 Randol June 29, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,674 Switzerland Feb. l5, 1908 

